2022 Best Schools in the Columbia, MO Area

Columbia Independent School

• Private School
• COLUMBIA, MO
• PK, K-12
• Rating 4.15 out of 5  33 reviews

Sophomore: I have been a student at CIS since I was in kindergarten, and although there are definitely some things that could be changed, it is overall an incredibly inclusive and growth-oriented environment. The opportunities presented are incredible, especially considering the size of the school. The class sizes are small, especially in the high school, but the teachers are always there for you, and the interaction between faculty and staff is unique and completely worth the tuition!
Read 33 Reviews

• grade A+

• 378 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Rock Bridge High School

• Columbia School District, MO
• PK, 9-12
• Rating 4.19 out of 5  407 reviews

Junior: Especially for Missouri, this is a great school. There are many clubs and activities available- Golf, Tennis, Football, Soccer, Speech and Debate, Math Team, Anime Club, Young Democrats, Young Republicans, Young Moderates, Rock Bridge Reaches Out, and more! We help you volunteer, and Rock bridge has an excellent Speech and Debate and Math team. 25 students were National Merit finalists or honorable mentions, while most schools are lucky to have any. We're also very close to the Columbia Area Career Center, so students can walk across the parking lot and take classes there for free- you can even become a certified EMT! There were some minor issues with in-school fights and drug usage, but we are repurposing the funds we used for our in-school police officer to help prevent this. We have a COVID-19 response based off of what other schools have been successful with. Students also are given a laptop to complete schoolwork with.
Read 407 Reviews

• grade A+

• 2,055 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

David H. Hickman High School

• Columbia School District, MO
• PK, 9-12
• Rating 3.86 out of 5  483 reviews

Senior: I love a lot of things about this school. While there are certainly some bad apples, the overall population is generally nice, and I have had very few issues with my peers. on top of this, the classes offered here are wonderful. there is an incredibly diverse range of courses, covering things from mathematics, to agriculture, to welding and more. As well, the faculty and teachers are incredible. Every teacher that I have had has been wonderful. each one is passionate about what they teach, and every one of them has a unique teaching style. Every class in different, they are all engaging and enjoyable in their own ways. Overall, though there is certainly some flaw in this school, my experience has been phenomenal.
Read 483 Reviews

• grade A

• 1,789 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Blair Oaks Elementary School

• Blair Oaks R-II School District, MO
• PK, K-4
• Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Senior: Blair Oaks is a really safe place for children. Violence is a rarity, stealing isn't common, and bullying is to a minimum.
Read 1 Review

• grade A

• 405 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Ann Hawkins Gentry Middle School

• Columbia School District, MO
• 6-8
• Rating 2 out of 5  2 reviews

• grade A

• 925 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Christian Fellowship School

• Private School
• COLUMBIA, MO
• PK, K-12
• Rating 4.49 out of 5  37 reviews

Parent: We love this school! Our kids are thriving in the small class environment where they get the required attention to grow both academically and in developing positive character traits. We are so glad we made this choice. The teachers are awesome, the environment is so positive and loving, like a healthy family environment. It is not one of those tiny private schools where they have no students or activities, they have a great sports program and plenty of fine arts opportunities. Plus the high school is also able to take advantage of the Career Center in Columbia as well. It is the best of both worlds! Even though our kids are 5 school years apart, they attend the same building from Pre-K to 12th grade. This was a nice bonus for us as well. If you're looking for a great school with top notch academics to send your kids to, definitely check this out!
Read 37 Reviews

• grade A

• 328 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Midway Heights Elementary School

• Columbia School District, MO
• PK, K-5

• grade A

• 222 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Mill Creek Elementary School

• Columbia School District, MO
• PK, K-5

• grade A minus

• 666 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Grant Elementary School

• Columbia School District, MO
• PK, K-5

• grade A minus

• 295 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Mary Paxton Keeley Elementary School

• Columbia School District, MO
• PK, K-5

• grade A minus

• 674 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Fr. Tolton Catholic High School

• Private School
• COLUMBIA, MO
• 9-12
• Rating 3.71 out of 5  35 reviews

Senior: I came into Fr. Tolton as a freshman of 2017 and I knew it was the right fit for me. Before Tolton, I attended Our Lady of Lourdes fifth grade until eighth grade. Both of these schools have a catholic background in common. I myself am a Catholic and I was baptized and confirmed at Our Lady of Lourdes. I believe it was the right choice to attend Tolton because of the community and leadership roles I obtained throughout High School. Father Tolton offers students to be apart of clubs, sports, and other extracurricular activities that best fit with their personality. When I was a freshman, I played cheer, basketball, and soccer. As I got older, I found out that soccer was my favorite sport to play. I am a competitive person and Tolton helped me grow into the person I am today. All four years of high school, I have been a key club member. This club helped me become apart of something bigger than myself. I got the chance to help children and donate to organizations in need.
Read 35 Reviews

• grade A minus

• 293 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Heritage Academy

• Private School
• COLUMBIA, MO
• K-12
• Rating 4.15 out of 5  26 reviews

Alum: I attended Heritage Academy from 2008 to 2012 (8th grade to graduation), and looking back at my time there it has been one of the best decisions my parents ever made to have me go there. Heritage was a challenging yet fun atmosphere where I was blessed by having amazing teachers throughout my time there who taught a Christian worldview through every subject. My time at Heritage also served to prepare me for a rigorous college experience. Currently working at my Alma mater at Central Methodist University, I see a lot of freshmen who enter their first year and have a tough time transitioning to the college setting. When I first came to CMU, it just felt like another semester because I was prepared for what a classwork felt like and what was expected of me. This is what makes Heritage unique. It's essentially a college liberal arts education and puts students in a position to succeed at a high level after high school. I wouldn't trade my experience there for anything.
Read 26 Reviews

• grade A minus

• 70 Students
• 5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Fairview Elementary School

• Columbia School District, MO
• PK, K-5

• grade A minus

• 507 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Russell Boulevard Elementary School

• Columbia School District, MO
• PK, K-5

• grade A minus

• 456 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary School

• Columbia School District, MO
• PK, K-5

• grade A minus

• 201 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Beulah Ralph Elementary School

• Columbia School District, MO
• K-5

• grade A minus

• 680 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

West Middle School

• Columbia School District, MO
• 6-8

• grade A minus

• 660 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

John Ridgeway Elementary School

• Columbia School District, MO
• K-5

• grade A minus

• 238 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Jefferson Middle School

• Columbia School District, MO
• 6-8
• Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

• grade B+

• 718 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Rock Bridge Elementary School

• Columbia School District, MO
• PK, K-5

• grade B+

• 485 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Cole R-1 Middle School

• Cole County R-I School District, MO
• 6-8
• Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: I like the ratio of students to teacher. Due to small class sizes, I feel my child received great attention and help from teachers.
Read 2 Reviews

• grade B+

• 155 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

California Middle School

• Moniteau County R-I School District, MO
• 6-8

• grade B+

• 324 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Bartley Elementary School

• Fulton School District, MO
• K-5

• grade B+

• 252 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Helias Catholic High School

• Private School
• JEFFERSON CITY, MO
• 9-12
• Rating 3.85 out of 5  139 reviews

Freshman: Helias is an amazing school, they encourage students to participate in activities and still continue their education. When I first started at Helias I was nervous (i had been home schooled before then), however once I got to meet my teachers and peers at the annual frosh camp day I was more at ease. There were so many clubs I could sign up for and I did. The main thing I kept hearing was to "sign up for anything and everything that might possibly interest you, it will help." This statement couldn't be more true. "Now what about the academics" you ask? They are amazing! Helias just got a new science wing and it's awesome. They offer so many classes that, at least for me sound so amazing. Helias, with their new science wing has so many lab classes which I know my siblings (they went somewhere else for high school) didn't have offered to them. They also have religion classes which did help broaden my mind some. Helias is a great school and has a lot to offer their students.
Read 139 Reviews

• grade B+

• 680 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Smithton Middle School

• Columbia School District, MO
• 6-8
• Rating 2 out of 5  3 reviews

Middle School Student: Been awhile but I spent all of 6-8th grade at Smithton and the teachers were good, the friends and people were great, and it was a good experience as any middle school.
Read 3 Reviews

• grade B+

• 751 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio